Starring: Cassy Harlo, Heather Doba, Jessica Hall, James Block, Dwayne Roszkowski, Jason Ryan

Directed By: Tommy Brunswick

Written By: Dwayne Roszkowski, Tommy Brunswick

Grade: B-

Remakes of the horror genre are populating the theater now more than ever. The vast majority of them, don’t even deserve the name of the original. Either they recreate the same movie in the exact same way, changing nothing aside from adding a lesser quality to the film or the remake is really nothing like the original concept, but still does nothing new. The original films that they are made after are classics although more and more, less well known and even flawed films are being remade. With the classics, you can’t really improve on these films, but giving more perspective, insight, or even just a different twist or take on it, can be fun and interesting to see. Remakes should be made for the films that weren’t so perfect or even the ones that just didn’t reach enough of an audience. There is actually a reason for a film to improve upon these things, and bring out the full potential of the film. However, the newer version of the movie, rarely does this and are just made to cash in the brand name of the first film, knowing that they won’t have to take the time or dedication to make the film look good to make a profit. The Remake is a critique on this reoccurring trend, using a horror movie being remade and a vengeful fan, becoming a killer to put a stop to it.

The classic film, Slaughter Camp 13 is being remade, purely for the big bucks. The cast and crew, camp in woods around where they will be shooting to get to know each other before the cameras are rolling. This mostly consists of the director, Seanna (Harlo) bossing everyone around. She demands that rewrites be made to the script and shoots down ideas that might have been able to enhance the overall look of the film. She wants to just film it and be done with it as soon as possible and loses any other concerns aside from her being in control of everything and everyone. The plans soon backtrack as a few of the cast members appear to be missing. Of course, while this is happening others are having sex, doing drugs, and a combination of nudity and drugs. As they do find dead bodies, they learn that there is someone out there. The ones who remain alive try to beat the killer and escape.

The acting in the film really was pretty bad. At least it was the laughable type of bad, that is given a cheesy factor. Cassy Harlo almost seemed overly stereotypically bitchy as the mean director. Jessica Hall and Meshelle Melone were the typical dumb, slutty, blondes, who were portrayed as not being able to do anything for themselves. Heather Doba was meant to be the likeable girl, and she was pushing for making the film have some quality to it and to work with the writer’s vision. However, she had a flat performance and there just was no depth to her. This is part of the fault of the script since her character could have been dealt with a bit more. This is the case with Peter as well, the co-director of the film who has a crush on Adrienne (Doba). He took the back seat over the course of the film and when he finally rebelled, the dialogue attempted to be rebellious, but ended up just being unclear.

It is no question that the film they are remaking, Slaughter Camp 13, is representative of Friday the 13^th. It takes place at a camp site and as flawed as some of the characters are, many are reflective upon those of the Friday the 13^th franchise. They were even named after the characters of the first two Friday films. The sex and drugs are definitely there. There is one particular scene where one of the girls, starts stripping all of her clothes looking for drugs she brought. She then begins to feel herself while snorting them. I can see the drugs, being part of the motive that might make her be a target to the killer. Aside, from that though, it seems like this was really just an excuse for her to get naked on screen and seemed more like filler than anything else. I also, think the film could have been better if it actually took place on the film set, rather than just the day before. The cast and crew of the film seemed to be the stereotypical and flat characters that would have been more logical to show within the remake, to expose that there was no thought put in to them. However, since the filming hasn’t began it just shows that this is how these people really are, which just seems unrealistic and paints a false picture that how people are portrayed in these films is actually accurate. If there was even one character we could relate to on some level, it would have been easier to cheer for them. Then again, the idea is for the remake to die, by killing all that are involved, so by not liking them, we are able to cheer for the killer in his quest to put death to all those involved in the film. Not caring about them, makes this easier. There is some blood, but less than the average slasher. The deaths don’t stand out too much, but as they go along they get better. One of the best includes a detached head, rolling away from the body.

It is really the perfect time for the film to be shown with Michael Bay’s remake of Friday the 13^th being in the works. It is clearly a very anti-Michael Bay film. In this aspect, the film did something great. Rather than just complaining about the film amongst friends or on the internet, they went out and made a film to creatively show their concerns. They displayed their anger through the film to make an example of remakes, showing that the motives are purely for money and any creativity is withdrawn from the film. Ultimately, it is the audience that keeps these films going. The producers and filmmakers wouldn’t want to make these films if their wasn’t an audience for them. This audience in the film is portrayed as void of any intelligence or having any standards. The film does make an example of many clichés of the genre, but a more satirical take or even display that real life was not accurately shown through remakes, would have proven the film smarter than what it was critiquing and the opinion that it displayed would be more valued. The Remake is very flawed through laughable acting and characters we can’t care about, but it remains to be fun and has a spirit for creative works, calling for the rejection of remakes, unoriginal work, and making films for the money rather than for the craft, and encourages the love of making them and exerting a message and meaning.